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Man accused of impersonating officer arrested in Henderson

HENDERSON (KSNV MyNews3.com) – A Las Vegas man was arrested Wednesday, accused of pulling out a badge claiming to be a police officer after a failed attempt at soliciting a woman at a massage parlor.

Lawrence DiVetro, 44, was booked into the Henderson Detention Center on impersonating an officer, burglary and kidnapping charges. He was released Thursday on $21,000 bail.

According to a news release, DiVetro is accused of going to the Sunset Spa on Sunset Road about noon Jan. 23. During the course of the massage, he is accused of demanding sexual favors from the massage parlor worker. When he was refused, he identified himself as a Henderson Police Officer and attempted to arrest the woman.

DiVetro, who is not a police officer, detained the worker, telling her she was under arrest. He eventually told her he was going to check with his supervisor and walked out of the business and did not return. The massage parlor worker said she heard police scanner traffic coming from his cell phone.

When detectives approached DiVetro on Wednesday in his car, DiVetro displayed a gold badge and had handcuffs on the seat of his car. The suspect at first denied going into a massage parlor but then admitted he did show a badge but to prevent a crime after he was offered sexual favors.

Detectives were investigating the January incident and three other similar incidents in the past few weeks at Henderson massage parlors. DiVetro has been charged only in connection with the incident at the Sunset Spa.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at (702) 267-4750 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips directly leading to an arrest or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.